US Chamber May Sue Trump Govt Over H-1B Fee Hike

US Chamber of Commerce, America’s largest business lobby, is contemplating legal action against the steep hike on new H-1B visa applications imposed by the Trump government.

According to a report in Bloomberg, the Chamber officials contact several member companies in a series of calls and virtual meetings to test support for a lawsuit, reflecting the widespread unease among large corporations, tech firms in particular, that use the H-1B programme heavily.

In 2020, the Chamber had challenged a proclamation by the Trump government then that suspended new nonimmigrant visas, a case it won in federal court. Now, the Chamber requires to garner support to the lawsuit and demonstrate the harm the move could do the industry.

Chamber spokesperson Matt Letourneau said that they were being inundated with member concerns and have been conveying the same and questions to the administration. The administration is also giving clarification about the scope the action, he said.

The companies that employ H-1B visa holders most are Amazon, Microsoft and Meta. Amazon alone hired more than 10,000 during the last decade. Indian professionals hold the major number of H-1B visas and they contribute their services towards America’s technology and healthcare workforce.

Indian professionals are being seen as crucial to US’ innovation economy. With US birth rates declining and Baby Boomers retiring, economists warn that immigration remains the only steady factor to sustain growth.

The fee announcement was done after months of campaigns by Trump’s political base targeting Indian professionals on social media. Critics opined that the move would undermine America’s own competitiveness as Indian workers are among the most educated, high-earning and most assimilated immigrant groups in the country.

In this backdrop, Compete America, a coalition of firms including Amazon, Apple, Accenture, IBM, Meta and Microsoft has called on the administration to reconsider.